News
Monday, April 30, 2012
No PPP PM will write Swiss letter* Prime minister reiterates he will not resign due to any political pressure or to fulfil anyone’s wishes
LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Sunday no prime minister from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) would write a letter to Swiss authorities to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Speaking to lawyers at his Lahore residence on Sunday, he said only parliament could decide if he would continue to remain the prime minister or not. Gilani reiterated that he would not resign due to political pressure or to fulfil anyone’s wishes. He added that certain elements were conspiring against him and he would not back down despite their conspiracies.
The Supreme Court had on April 26 convicted Prime Minister Gilani in a contempt case. He was sentenced until the rising of the court. Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly after his conviction, Gilani had said that he could be de-notified only by the speaker of the House. Gilani said until the detailed verdict in the case was not provided, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif should keep his wishes repressed, a reference to the latter’s demand for him to quit in the face of his conviction. He also said that Nawaz Sharif was “confused” and was now “confusing politics too”. He declared, “I will actively reciprocate any kind of politics.”
Separately, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid President Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said the army is not keen to come into power and was just observing the politicians in the prevailing crisis. Talking to media after condoling with senior journalist Chaudhry Ghulam Hussain over the demise of his father, he said that despite a stay order, he recognised Shahbaz Sharif as Punjab’s chief minister. He said if the rulers of Punjab were truthful about their claims of implementing the orders of the judiciary then they should hold local bodies elections at the earliest in the province which, he said, would expose their popularity.
Shujaat said those who were demanding early general elections should know that the election would be held at its due time, and for the time being they should make preparations for the local bodies polls. He said the rulers of Punjab may pander to his party’s deserters but they would ultimately return to their real party. Nawaz Sharif, he claimed, had a habit of turning political opposition into personal enmity, and repeatedly confronted the judiciary, army and media during his rule.
Replying to a question, the PML-Q president said if his formula for ending electricity load shedding was implemented the energy crisis could be overcome. Elaborating his point, he said if the payment to the provinces under the NFC Award was stopped and the IPPs were paid, load shedding could be reduced to just two hours a day. Shujaat advised those calling for the resignation of the premier to wait for the detailed judgement of the Supreme Court. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk